POLICE were today hunting for a suspected rapist who targeted a lone woman as she walked home after a night out.

Officers have released an e-fit of a man who allegedly subjected the woman in her 30s to the terrifying ordeal on the night of Saturday, April 14.

The victim told officers that she had been drinking in The Blacksmiths Arms in The Old Village, Huntington, during the evening.

Her alleged attacker, who is thought to come from Eastern Europe, was also drinking in the pub.

The victim told how she was walking alone down isolated Church Lane in Huntington at about 11.30pm when she was approached from behind and attacked.

Initial details about the incident were reported in The Press on Friday - but it has now emerged that police are treating the attack as a rape.

Police have described the attacker as white, in his 40s, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins tall, of stocky build, with a beard.

His complexion is said to be slightly olive or tanned and it is thought he may originate from Eastern Europe, possibly Slovakia or Slovenia.

It is also believed that he was with a local man while drinking in the Blacksmiths Arms.

Detectives have carried out house-to-house inquiries after the incident, but have not yet made any arrests.

Today, local ward councillor Carol Runciman warned other women to avoid walking on their own at night in places like Church Lane.

"It's a bit of a lonely little lane," she said. "It's a shocking incident and I'm very upset to hear it. I just hope she's alright and I hope the police catch the person who did it.

"I would advise people to try not to walk home alone, especially on slightly rural lanes like that one, if they possibly can."

Blacksmiths Arms landlady Sue Clay said: "It's such a small community village - you don't expect this to happen.

"We've only been here for eight weeks, we've come from quite a rough place - Barnsley - this was the last thing we expected, to have something like this on our doorstep."

Police have asked for anyone with information - including anyone who was drinking in the pub leading up to 11pm on the night in question - to phone Detective Constable Cheryl Webster, of York CID, on 0845 6060247.